Power inverter with collapsing mounting tabs

ABSTRACT

A plurality of mounting feet securely attach a power inverter to a body. The tabs are to be adjustably or pivotally mounted on the under carriage of the power inverter such that they may be positioned by the user when mounting to a body. When mounted, the tabs absorb vibrations from the host body and prevent the power inverter from resulting damage. During shipping or storage the tabs are retracted to the underside of the power inverter to minimize space required by the power inverter. The tabs are made from elastomeric electrical insulator material in order to ensure a proper ground is maintainer as long as the power inverter is secured via the tabs.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention relates generally to convenient and simplifiedmeans to fix a power inverter on a host body and, more specifically,this invention provides adjustable mounting tabs placed on theundercarriage of a power inverter to function as pivotal brackets.

[0003] 2. Description of Related Art

[0004] There exists an enormous waste of economy when attempting to fixa power inverter to a host body. Either a mounting feature is absent andthe user must find a way to attach the power inverter for themselves, ora bracket is provided by the manufacturer.

[0005] Should the manufacturer provide a mounting bracket for theconsumer, the bracket is usually bulky and awkward to effectuatemounting. Ultimately, the manufacturer experiences an increase inproduction costs. Similarly, the increased weight and size of the powerinverter increase the costs incurred by the manufacturer duringshipping.

[0006] Additionally, the mounting features of the prior art aresusceptible to vibrations as well as current surges from the host body.These vibrations and current surges are transferred to the powerinverter without any absorption or grounding by the mounting bracket.Such conditions can lead to damage to the power inverters and possiblycreating a dangerous condition. The conventional mounting brackets alsofail to maximize on the width of the mounting base.

[0007] It is highly desirable to provide a simple cost effectivemounting feature for power inverters and increase profits whiledecreasing costs. Such a feature should exhibit characteristics thatinclude grounding capability and vibration absorption.

[0008] The need therefore exists for a power inverter with a mountingfeature incorporated that minimizes costs and facilitates easy shippingwhile also absorbing host body vibrations and providing adequategrounding ensuring a safe condition.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] It is therefore an advantage of the present invention to providetabs, adapted to securely attach a power inverter to a body. The tabsare to be pivotally mounted on the under carriage of the power inverter,such that they may be positioned by the user when mounting to a body.The tabs are made from elastomeric electrical insulator material inorder to ensure a proper ground is maintained as long as the powerinverter is secured via the tabs. This type of material also exhibitsvibration absorption characteristics and will minimize the damage to thepower inverter resulting from body vibration.

[0010] These advantages and other novel features of the presentinvention will become apparent in the following detailed description ofthe invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] A better understanding of the present invention will be had whenreference is made to the accompanying drawings, wherein identical partsare identified by identical reference numbers and wherein:

[0012]FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a power inverter having a heatdissipating assembly according to the present invention;

[0013]FIG. 2 is a plan view of the tabs forming a part of thisinvention.

[0014]FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the tabs of FIG. 2 forming a part ofthis invention.

[0015]FIG. 4 is a plan view of the invention secured to a host bodyshowing the pivotal features.

[0016]FIG. 5 is an enlarged side elevation of an embodiment of theinvention secured to a host body.

[0017]FIG. 6 is a side elevation of the spherical dampener forming apart of the tabs.

[0018]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the elongated tab.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0019] A power inverter, as is well known in the art, is generally boxshaped.

[0020] Referring to FIG. 1, the main components of the power inverter100 are substantially enclosed within a housing 10, a front cover plate12, a rear cover plate 14, and a base plate 16. The main componentsfurther include a printed circuit board 20 loaded with conventionalpower converter elements and the appropriate wiring, as will beunderstood by those skilled in the art. An L-shaped heat sink plate 22is mounted within the housing in a manner to be described hereinafter.The L-shaped heat sink plate 22 is shown having heat dissipating fins 24extending along the side length of the plate.

[0021] The exterior of the housing 10 has a plurality of heatdissipating fins 26 extending outwardly from the sides and the top ofthe housing 10. The interior surface 28 of the housing is provided withslotted, threaded screw holes 30 at the upper and lower comers thereof.The front and rear cover plates 12, 14 are provided with correspondingscrew holes 32, 34, respectively, which screws 36 pass through to attachthe front and rear cover plates to the housing during assembly.Furthermore the interior sides of the housing are provided with opposingelongated mounting slots 38 through which the printed circuit boardedges 40 are inserted into lengthwise. The bottom of the housing 10 hasparallel elongated slots 44 for mounting the base plate 16 therein. Thebase plate 16 has corresponding mating edges 46 that fit into the bottomslots 44 of the housing when the edges 46 are inserted and slid into theslots 44 lengthwise. The remaining surfaces of the interior of thehousing are smooth and continuous.

[0022] In addition to the screw holes 32 for attachment to the housing10, the front cover plate 12 is provided with power converted outlets 50or receptacles, an on/off switch 52, and a plurality of ventilationholes 54 that allow air to pass in or out from the housing interior. Therear cover plate 14 is provided with a power cord 56 with an attachedadapter (not shown), a fuse 60, and an optional intake fan 62. It willbe noted that the power inverter 100 according to the invention does notnecessarily require an intake fan. For example, a 350 Watt powerinverted may be equipped with an intake fan, whereas a 150 Watt powerinverter may not. Accordingly the fan 62 on the rear cover plate 14 mayalternatively be replaced by additional ventilation holes.

[0023] The present invention provides mounting feet or tabs 101 adaptedto securely attach a power inverter to a body. The mounting feet arepreferably pivotally mounted on the under carriage of the powerinverter, such that they may be positioned by the user when mounting toa body.

[0024] The general shape and description of the mounting feet arefurther understood with reference to FIGS. 2-3. The mounting feet arepreferably formed from a tab 101, a cushioning member 108 and suitablefasteners to secure the tab 101 to the base plate 16 of the inverter100. The tab 101 is defined as having straight upper and lower outeredges 112, 113 as shown in FIG. 2. The left and right edges 110 of thetab 101 are formed from a first radius of curvature taken from the endsof the upper outer edge 112 to the ends of the lower outer edge 113.Located at the point of origin of each radius of curvature are twoapertures 102, 106. The first aperture 102 is defined by a second radiusof curvature, whereas, the second aperture 106 is defined by a fourthradius of curvature. The apertures 102, 106 penetrate through the entiretab 101, wherein the first aperture 102 is designed to accept a fastener102 a in which to secure the tab 101 to the base plate 16 of the powerinverter 1 while the other aperture 106 is designed to accept aspherical dampener 108.

[0025] A small oval depression 114 is provided on the tab that increasesthe overall strength of the tab 101 against bending. The depression 114is defined by an opening located on the top surface 124 and extendsbeyond the bottom surface 122 and terminates with a lower edge 126 asshown in FIGS. 2, 5 and 7. The tab 101 is preferably made fromelastomeric electrical insulating material, however, any other suitablematerial may also be used.

[0026] From FIG. 3, the bottom surface 122 of the tab 101 is generallyplanar but for the protrusion of the depression's bottom surface 126;similarly, the top surface 124 is also generally planar but for the ovaldepression 114 as defined above.

[0027] As shown in FIGS. 2-4, a spherical dampener 108 is engaged with asecond aperture 106. The spherical dampener 108 has an outercircumference defined by a third radius of curvature and an innerpassage 109 having about the same second radius of curvature shown inthe first aperture 102 of the tab 101. Circumscribing the sphericaldampener is a recess 150 in which to engage the internal edge of thesecond aperture 106 on the tab 101 as shown in FIG. 4. The aperture 106and the recess 150 are of the same radius of curvature in order toprovide a form fit. A passageway 109 passes through the concentriccenter of the spherical dampener 108 with a second radius of curvature,about the same as the aperture 102 on the tab 101. The passageway 109 onthe spherical dampener 108 provides a means through which to fasten on ahost body via a fastener 109 a passing through the passageway 109 andengaging the host body. The spherical dampener 108 is also preferablymade from elastomeric electrical insulator. The spherical dampener's 108composition is such that vibrations from the host body are absorbed whenthe power inverter 100 is mounted through the tabs 101. While theabove-described spherical dampener 108 has been described with referenceto specific radii of curvatures, alternate embodiments may varydepending on user requirements. However, it is preferred that the firstaperture 102 of the tab and the passageway 109 within the dampener havethe same radius of curvature.

[0028] Another embodiment of the invention not depicted in the figuresconstructs the tab from a single blank, creating the spherical dampenerand the tab components as one unit. As previously stated, the preferredmaterial utilized exhibits insulator and dampening characteristics,however the construction material is not limited to only those materialspossessing like characteristics.

[0029] Referring to FIG. 5, the tab 101 is pivotally connected to apower inverter 100 through the aperture 102 by any number of means,e.g., pins, screws, rivets. A spacer 140 is employed to offset the tab101 from the power inverter 100. This offset provides an additionaldampening effect and reduces the possible of potential damage to thepower inverter 100. The offset distance may very depending upon therequirements of the user. Preferably, the tab 101 and the spacer 140 aretightly set, so that a good measure of torsional friction characterizesthe swinging action of the tab 101. The spacer may be comprised of anysuitable material such that the torsional friction caused by the pivotalmovement of the tab will not breakdown the surface of either the tab 101or the power inverter 100.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 4, during storage and shipping of the powerinverter, the tab 110 should be in a retracted position 101 b tominimize damage to the tab 101 as well as the space occupied by thepower inverter 100 and the tabs 101. Whereas, the tab 101 may be pivotedto any open position 101 a once a user is prepared to mount the powerinverter 100 to a host body (not shown).

[0031] Once pivoted to an open position, the tab 101 is ready to securethe power inverter 100 to the host body. The four tabs 101 pivotindependently to allow a user to position the tabs in the best location.The passageway 108 located within the spherical dampener 108 is thenused as the means to which the tab 101 is affixed to the host body. Noone particular attaching mean is preferred over another; the user mayutilize alternate attaching means based upon their needs; e.g., pins,screws, rivets, nails.

[0032] The features of the invention as explained above provide asolution wherein power inverters may be provided with an attaching meanswithout compromising compact form. More specifically, the tabs 101 arepivotally mounted on the under carriage of a power inverter 100 suchthat they may be positioned by the user when mounting to a host body.The tabs 101 are preferably made from elastomeric electrical insulatormaterial in order to ensure a proper ground is maintainer as long as thepower inverter is secured via the tabs. Additionally, the tabs 101absorb host body vibration thus lessening the stresses on the powerinverter.

[0033] While the foregoing invention has been shown and described withreference to the preferred embodiment, it will be understood thatvarious changes in form and detail may be made therein without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the instant invention. For example, theexact shape of the tabs 101 may be variety to suit the particular baseplate 16 and host to which the inverter will be mounted. In addition,while the preferred embodiment utilizes four tabs 101, any suitablenumber of tabs 101 may be employed for various mounting arrangements.

What is claimed is:
 1. A mounting device for mounting a power inverterto another object, comprising: an elongated tab member affixed to a baseplate of said power inverter; an insulating member disposed at a firstend of said elongated tab; and an adjustment system adjusting a relativeposition of said insulating member relative to said base plate of saidpower inverter, wherein said elongated tab member is movable between afirst position where said insulating member is retracted to a positionalong said base plate and a second position where said insulating memberis cantilevered beyond a peripheral edge of said base plate.
 2. Thedevice of claim 1, wherein said elongated tab comprises a depressionformed along its length to increase a strength of said tab againstbending.
 3. The device of claim 1, wherein a first aperture is providedat a first end of said elongated tab to at least partial receive saidinsulating member.
 4. The device of claim 3, wherein a second apertureis provided at a second end of said elongated tab to receive a fastenerextending between said elongated tab and said base plate.
 5. The deviceof claim 2, wherein said depression is formed along the center of saiddevice.
 6. The device of claim 3, wherein said insulating membercomprises a central aperture extending a length of said insulatingmember and a groove circumscribing a perimeter of said insulating memberand circumscribing said central aperture.
 7. The device of claim 6,wherein said insulating member engages said elongated tab, said groovereceiving an edge defining said first aperture.
 8. The device of claim1, further comprising a bushing member disposed between said elongatedtab and said base plate.
 9. The device of claim 1, wherein saidinsulating member is formed from an elastomeric electrically insulatingmaterial.
 10. A mounting device for mounting a power inverter to anotherobject, comprising: an elongated tab member comprising a first apertureadjacent a first end and a second aperture adjacent a second end; aninsulating member disposed within said first aperture; and a fasteningmember passing though said second aperture and fastening said elongatedtab to a base plate of said power inverter, wherein said elongated tabmember is movable between a first position where said insulating memberis retracted to a position along said base plate and a second positionwhere said insulating member is cantilevered beyond a peripheral edge ofsaid base plate.
 11. The device of claim 10, wherein said elongated tabcomprises a depression formed along its length to increase a strength ofsaid tab against bending.
 12. The device of claim 10, wherein said firstaperture is defined by a first radius of curvature.
 13. The device ofclaim 12, wherein said second aperture is defined by a second radius ofcurvature.
 14. The device of claim 11, wherein said depression is formedalong the center of said device.
 15. The device of claim 10, whereinsaid insulating member comprises a central aperture extending a lengthof said insulating member and a groove circumscribing a perimeter ofsaid insulating member and circumscribing said central aperture.
 16. Thedevice of claim 15, wherein said insulating member engages saidelongated tab, said groove receiving an edge defining said firstaperture.
 17. The device of claim 10, further comprising a bushingmember adjacent said second aperture and having a bushing aperturealigned with said second aperture.
 18. The spherical dampener of claim10, wherein said insulating member is formed from an elastomericelectrically insulating material.